Kingston school voters will decide on $16M capital project plan May 15

KINGSTON, N.Y. >> The Board of Education has agreed to seek voter approval on May 15 for a $16 million capital project that would finance building improvements at three schools, using bonds and capital reserve funds.

The projects are part of an ongoing plan to address high-priority building needs in the Kingston school district.

“This is part of the five-year capital plan, and these [projects] were addressed as part of the board meeting last month,” Superintendent of Schools Paul Padalino said at Thursday’s meeting of the school board.

Through two ballot propositions, the district will seek approval to issue $11 million in bonds and use another $5 million from a capital reserve fund.

Advertisement

During last month’s board meeting last month, Scott Hillje, a principal owner of the architectural consulting form KSQ Design, said the projects were selected based on concerns outlined by district officials.

“What we did in the planning process ... is prioritize the highest needs of the district,” he said.

According to a report from KSQ Design and consulting form BBL, the work would include the following.

• At M. Clifford Miller Middle School: walkway repairs; asphalt paving; some window replacements; and renovations to the auditorium, including new seating, flooring, lighting and improved acoustics. Also, electric panel boards would be replaced and emergency lights would be upgraded.

• At John F. Kennedy Elementary School: masonry and walkway repairs; asphalt paving; some window replacements; disability access improvements at the main entrance; and the installation of a new elevator.

Details of the projected cost of improvements in each of the buildings were not immediately available.

“This is the general idea of what’s going to happen in these buildings,” Hillje said. “As we continue to develop the drawings and specifications for these projects, we will better define how much we can do of each one of these things at the schools.”